Estimated €100,000 damage as timber train slowly crashes into empty passenger train

The Railway Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport has issued an ‘Urgent Safety Advice Notice’ after the incident which happened last month.

The extensive damage included pannels at the front and side of an intercity railcar being knocked off when contact was made with steel supports the cargo train. The steel supports hold the timber in place, but, like the passenger train, the timber wagon was empty at the time.

The collision happened at Westport train station as a timber train was being moved into a siding while an intercity railcar was partly in a another sideing but it was “fouling into the loop”, which mean the train was effectively sticking out past the point where where it would have been safe while the other train passed into the siding beside it.

In a description of the collision, the Railway Accident Investigation Unit (RAIU) said: “On the 10th February 2025, an ICR was driven onto the Shed Road in Westport Yard in expectation of the arrival of the Timber Train into the Cabin Siding. The ICR was fouling into the loop.”

“The driver for Locomotive 076 undertook a number of shunting movements before propelling the timber wagons down the loop siding, colliding with the ICR which was fouling the loop, causing damage to the leading cab (22139) and a timber wagon,” the RAIU said.

It added: “The physical damage is estimated to be €100,000; the actual value will not be known until the remedial works have been undertaken.”

In the analysis and conclusions section of the notice report, the RAIU said: “Had the shunter and driver applied all the principles and instructions outlined in the IÉ Rule Book and the Professional Shunters Handbook, the accident would not have occurred.”

The report noted that “There was no physical fouling points markers to assist drivers in ensuring that
their vehicle was not fouling the line.” However, it was also added that this has been addressed: “Fouling points markers have been erected at Westport Yard which will give clear visual aid to shunters and drivers in relation to vehicles fouling the line.”

It also recommended that Irish Rail “should risk assess all siding locations with a view to identifying whether fouling points markers should be installed at other siding locations.”

The rail company acted quickly with a temporary marker post at Westport which was followed by the installation of a permanent post.